Surgical drape

ABSTRACT

An open-ended, sleeve-like surgical drape having a major longitudinal edge which normally rests on or above a body limb being draped and a cuff around at least a portion of the open end. Edges of the drape defining the opening at the open end extend away from said major longitudinal edge of the drape in a direction which forms an angle of less than 90* with the direction of the major longitudinal edge. Thus, an enlarged opening is created at the open end to receive the limb being draped, and excess fabric which would exist if all the edges defining the opening at the open end were perpendicular to the major longitudinal edge is eliminated.

United States Patent [191 Collins Nov. 6, 1973 SURGICAL DRAPE Primary Examiner-Richard A. Gaudet 751 lnventor: Robert F. Collins, Barrington, Ill. Dunne Attorney-Powell L. Sprunger [73] Assignee: The Kendall Company, Boston, 7

Mass. 22 Filed: May 3, 1971 [57] ABSTRACT Appl. N0.: 139,641

U.S. Cl. 128/132 D, 128/298 An open-ended, sleeve-like surgical drape having a major longitudinal edge which normally rests on or above a body limb being draped and a cuff around at least a portion of the open end. Edges of the drape defining the opening at the open end extend away from said major longitudinal edge of the drape in a direction which forms an angle of less than 90 with the direction of the major longitudinal edge. Thus, an enlarged opening is created at the open end to receive the limb being draped, and excess fabric which would exist if all the edges defining the opening at the open end were perpendicular to the major longitudinal edge is eliminated.

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHUV s 1915 3.769.971

sum 1 ur 2 INYENTOR.

PATENTED NOV 6 I975 SHEET 2 BF 2 SURGICAL DRAPE This invention relates to surgical drapes, and in particular to a drape for covering a body limb, such as a leg, during surgical or obstetrical procedures.

Open-ended, sleeve-like surgical drapes have been employed to cover body limbs during surgical procedure for some time. Many of such drapes, however, include'an excessive amount of fabric at the open end which may hang below the sterile field, thereby becoming contaminated, during use. The excess fabric may also reduce'the accessibility of various operating table controls, when applied over a leg during an operation.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a drape having a reduced amount of fabric which might hang below the sterile field or, interfere with activity during use of the drape in an operation.

it is a further object of thisinvention to provide a surgical legging drape having an enlarged opening for receiving the leg to be draped. i

It is also an object of this invention to provide a drape with'relatively deep pouch-like areas adapted to receive and cover the hands of a person applying the drape and to permit positive control of the'drape while applying it over a body limb.

Briefly described, the drape of this invention comprises a fiat sleeve of drapable material having a major longitudinal edge which normally rests on or above the limb draped within the sleeve during a surgical procedure, two side panels which are connected around a portion of their peripheral edges, a closed end, and an open end which has an opening to receive the body limb to be draped, said opening being defined by at least one peripheral edge of each side panel. The drape includesmeans adjacent the open end for aseptically grasping the drape. during manipulation thereof in draping the limb for surgery. Such means may comprise a flap, or strip of material, joining each side panel at the opening to create a cuff adjacent to and opening away from the'open end for receiving and covering the hands of a nurseapplying the drape over the limb. The plane of at least a portion of the opening at theopen end is generally slanted, or diagonal, to a central axis of the sleeve extending from the opening. By the term central axis" is meant an axis of the sleeve extending from the open end along the length'of the sleeve aligned with the major axis of the sleeve, assumingthe length of the sleeve from the open end is greater than the width of the sleeve, or, if the length of the sleeve is less than its width, with the minor axis of the sleeve. The central axis also is usually parallel to the major longitudinal edge. of the sleeve. To provide such a structure, two corresponding peripheral edges of the'side panels adjacent the opening inthe open end extend away from the major longitudinal edge and toward the closed end in a direction which forms an angle of less than 90 with the direction of the major longitudinal edge of the sleeve so that at least a portion of the opening lies in a plane generally diagonal or slanted to the central axis of the sleeve. This angle of less than 90 with the direction of the major longitudinal edge of the sleeve will be referred to as the open end slope hereafter in this specification. This invention provides a drape structure having an enlarged openingfor receiving the leg to be draped. Also, this structure eliminates or reduces excessfabric which would exist at the-lower portion of the open end of the drape when the drape is applied to a body limb with the major longitudinal edge resting thereon if the edges around the opening were strictly perpendicular to the major longitudinal edge of the sleeve, and thereby avoids the possibility that such excess fabric might fall into a non-sterile area or interfere with the draping procedure or other activity around a draped patient.

The optimal angle for the open end slope varies according to the exact size and shape of the drape, its intended purpose, and the individual preferences and practices of the person using it. Edges of each side panel around the opening may be cut or formed to lie in the desired direction to form the open end slope. Also, they may be produced by slitting the sleeve lengthwise from the opening in the open end to create corner flaps defined by the intersection of the slit edges and the edges of the opening and folding the corner flaps produced thereby outwardly along diagonal fold lines extending across the corner flaps at the angle do sired for the open end slope. The corner flaps may be maintained in this folded condition by attaching them to points on the drape which the flaps overlie when so folded. Preferably these points of attachment are located on the flap defining the cuff around the open end, but they may also be located on other portions of the drape. In addition to reducing the amount of drape material which might hang below the sterile field or interfere with activity around a draped patient, maintaining such corner flaps in a folded-back condition, as described, also provides relatively deep hand receiving pouch-like areas under the cuff to receive and cover the hands of a person applying the drape over a patients leg and permit positive control of the drape during its application.

Drapes in accordance with this invention may be made from any sheet material suitable for the construction of operating room gowns, surgical drapes, and the like. Such materials are generally flexible, drapable and resistant or impervious to the passage of bacteria, blood, and other fluids. The drapes may be disposable or reusable. Materials suitable for the construction of the drapes include, for example, woven and nonwoven fabrics, paper, plastic, and combinations of such materials.

A simple way to make an embodiment of a drape in accordance with this invention employs a single rectangular sheet of drapable material. The sheet is folded in half along a longitudinal fold line which extends across the sheet parallel to and midway between two opposing edges of the sheet, forming two substantially identical rectangular layers of the sheet connected along the longitudinal fold line and having a first and a second pair of corresponding, or matching, edges perpendicular to the longitudinal fold line and a third pair of corresponding edges extending parallel to the longitudinal fold line between the first and second pairs of edges, the layers having substantially edge to edge relationship along the first, second, and third pairs of edges. A flap portionof the two layers adjacent the first pair of edges which lie in a direction perpendicular to said longitudinal fold line is folded outwardly back on itself along a transverse fold line extending across each of said layers. The two layers are then connected, or seamed, together, such as by sewing, adhesive bonding, or heatsealing', along the full length of the second pair of edges lying perpendicular to said longitudinal fold line and from thatsecond pair of edges along a portion of the length of the third pair of edges which extends parallel to the longitudinal fold line, leaving an unseamed segment thereof between the seamed portion thereof and the first pair of edges. This creates a sleeve-like drape having two side panels connected along a longitudinal fold line, a closed end, an open end having an opening therein, a cuff formed by said flap portion folded back along a transverse fold line around a portion of the opening in the open end, and a slit, or unseamed portion, extending along the third pair of edges at the open end opposite and parallel to the longitudinal fold line. A corner portion of each layer at the corner thereof defined by the intersection of the third pair of edges and said transverse fold line is then folded outwardly'back onto its respective layer along a diagonal fold line extending across that corner in the direction of the desired open end slope. Each corner portion may be maintained in this folded-back position by being attached, adhesively or otherwise, to a point on the drape which the folded corner portion overlies. Thus, a drape is produced in accordance with this invention comprising a flat sleeve of drapable material having two side panels connected along a major longitudinal edge defined by a longitudinal fold line which normally will rest on or above a limb being draped and having a closed end, a cuffed open end having an opening therein, with at least a portion of the opening lying in a plane which is generally slanted, or diagonal, to the central axis of the sleeve. The drape so produced has an enlarged opening for receiving the limb being draped and also has less material which is apt to hang below the sterile surgical field or interfere with activity in the vicinity of a patient during an operation. The enlarged opening facilitates insertion of the limb being covered into the sleeve-like drape and thereby reduces the possibility of rupturing the sterile field by tearing the drape during application to a patient, especially while being applied over a leg resting in a surgical stirrup. As an alternative to making the drape with the above described cornerfold, a drape in accordance with this invention may also be made by cutting off said corner portion of each layer of the sheet along a line corresponding to the abovedescribed diagonal fold line extending across that corner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OFTHE DRAWINGS The objects, details, and exact nature of this invention will be better understood upon reading the following portions of the specification detailed in-reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a drape in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the drape of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a drape in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a drape in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a drape in accordance with this invention; and

FIG. 6 shows the drape of FIG. 1 being held in position for application over a leg.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 show a preferred embodiment of a drape in accordance with this invention. The drape comprises a sleeve 2 of drapable material defined by two side panels 4, 6 connected around a portion of their peripheral edges to form the main body portion of the drape, with a major longitudinal edge 8 defined by a longitudinal fold line extending in a direction parallel to the central axis of the sleeve along which the two side panels are connected which normally rests on or above a body limb draped within the sleeve, a seamed minor longitudinal edge 10 substantially parallel to but shorter than the major longitudinal edge 8, a closed end having a seamed end edge 12 substantially perpendicular to the major and minor longitudinal edges, and an open end having an opening 14 defined by unseamed edge segments 15, 17, 18, and 20 of the two side panels 4, 6. A flap 16 is connected to the side panels 4, 6 along a transverse fold line adjacent the opening 14 to provide a cuff adjacent to and opening away from the open end. Unseamed edge segments 18, 20 at opening 14 extend to the minor longitudinal edge 10in a direction which forms an angle 22, termed above the open end slope," of less than with the direction of the major longitudinal edge 8 of the sleeve, as can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 wherein dashed lines 24 and 26 extend in the direction of edge segments 18, 20 and major longitudinal edge 8 respectively to illustrate angle 22. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, edge segments 18 and 20 are caused to lie in the direction of the open end slope by folding corner portions 28 and 30 outwardly back onto the sleeve along diagonal fold lines which extend along the length of edge segments 18, 20. Corner portions 28, 30 are fastened to underlying points of the cuff by attaching means, such as adhesive, at points 32, 34. This maintains the corner portions 28, 30 of the drape at the open end in raised positions and reduces the likelihood that these corner portions might fall into a non-sterile area while the drape is applied on a patients leg with the major longitudinal edge 8 resting thereupon. This also creates an enlarged opening for receiving the leg into the drape. When expanded to receive a limb being draped, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the opening of the drape has a substantially larger cross-sectional area than an expanded cross-section of the sleeve taken perpendicularly to the central axis of the sleeve. Thus, the opening is enlarged to more easily receive a body limb into the drape without necessitating an increase in width of the drape between the major and minor longitudinal edges at the open end. Furthermore, by folding back corner sections 28, 30, as described, and attaching them at points 32, 34 to underlying portions of the drape, pouch-like areas, such as at 36, are formed on each side of the drape under the cuff. These pouch-like areas facilitate application of the drape over a body limb by receiving and covering the hands of a person applying the drape and enabling that person to easily lift the drape and maintain positive control thereof during application of the drape over a limb, as shown in FIG. 6. Accordingly, the points at which edge segments 15 and 17 intersect respectively with edge segments 18 and 20 are spaced sufficiently far from the major longitudinal edge 8 so that both hands of a nurse may be accomodated under the cuff for lifting and manipulating the drape.

As a preferred structure, the folded-back corner portions 28, 30 are fastened to an underlying portion of the drape at points 32, 34 by a rupturable seal. Use of a rupturable seal permits these corner portions to be detached after the drape has been applied over a leg, so that corner portions 28, 30 may be tucked under or lapped over the draped limb, as desired. In the case of a disposable drape, the rupturable seal may comprise means such as a pressure sensitive adhesive or a cohesively weak hot melt type adhesive. In a reuseable drape, snap fasteners may be utilized as a means for detachably fastening at points 32, 34.

The exact size and shape of a drape in accordance with this invention will vary according to its purpose and the individual styling preferences of its manufacturer. However, in one configuration of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 found quite suitable'for covering a leg held in a stirrup during an ordinary surgical procedure, the major longitudinal edge 8 is approximately43 inches long, the closed end edge 12 is ap proximately 30 inches long, the flap 16 comprising the cuff is approximately 9 inches wide, the minor longitudinal edge 10 is approximately 22 inches long unseamed edge segments and 17 are approximately 12.5 inches long, and unseamed edge segments 18 and 20 extending from the minor longitudinal edge 10 to unseamed edge segments l5'and 17 respectively are approximately 27.3 inches long. Thus, as can be readily determined through minor calculations and the use of standard trigonometric tables, a'flat drape having these dimensions has an open end slope of approximately 40. These dimensions are given only for the purpose of illustration and are intended in no way to limit the scope of this invention. While these dimensions define one preferred embodiment of this drape for use as a surgical legging drape, the dimensions may be varied considerably and still provide functional drapes in accordance with the invention so long as the opening provided in the sleeve is large enough to receive thereinto the body limb being draped. For example, using the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 with major longitudinal edge'8 being 43 inches long, closed end edge 12 being 30 inches long, and flap 16 being 9 inches wide, the length of minor longitudinaledge 10 may vary from 0 inches to approximately 28 inches, and unseamed edge segments 15 and 17 may vary in length from approximately 9.5 to approximately 15 inches. It has been determined that, with such a drape, minor longitudinal edge 10 must be no more than approximately 28 inches in length if the hand receivingp ockets or pouches 36 are to be effectively formed under the cuff by the folded'over corner portions, and that unseamed segments l5 and 17-must beat least approximately 9.5.

inches in length in order to provide sufficient space for the nurses hands to be properly received under the cuff. Also, segments 15 and 17 cannot extend more than half the perpendicular distance from the major longitudinal edge 8 to the minorlongitudinal edge 10, or approximately 15 inches in this case, if the hand receiving pockets or pouches 36 formed under the cuff by the folded over corner portions are to be properly spaced. Thus, with this particular construction, the open end slope may vary from approximately 20 to approximately 54 depending uponthe sizes chosenfor these variable dimensions.

The embodiment of a drape according to this invention illustrated in FIG. 3 also comprises a sleeve 40 of drapable material defined by side panels 42, 44 connected around a portion of their peripheral edges, and havinga major longitudinal edge 46 which normally rests on or above a body limb being draped, a closed end having a seamed end edge 47, a seamed minor longitudinal edge 48, and an open end having an opening 50 defined by unseamed edge segments 49, 51,, 53, 55

of the side panels 42, 44. A flap 52 is connected to the side panels at opening 50 to provide a cuff adjacent to and opening away from the open end. In this embodiment, flap 52 joins sleeve 40 along transverse fold line 54 which extends along the edge segments 53 and 55 at the periphery of opening 50. Fold line 54 intersects the major longitudinal edge 46 at an angle 56 (the open end slope) of less than 90 and extends in a generally straight line to the unseamed edge segments 49, 51 of the sleeve. Flap 52 is maintained in this position by being attached by means, such as adhesive or glue, to the body of sleeve 40 at points, such as 58. The points of attachment are spaced from the' major longitudinal edge,46 on panels 42 and 44 sufficiently far to provide pockets for the nurses hands under the cuff and are also properly spaced to serve as hand stops to limit the distance that the nurse may separate her hands under the cuff during spreading of the drape for placement over a limb. As can be readily understood, the opening 50, when expanded, has a greater crosssectional area than as expanded cross-section of the sleeve taken perpendicular to the major longitudinal edge 46. Creation of the cuff by folding back flap 52 at an angle of less than 90 with major longitudinal edge 46 also removes a portion of the lower part of the drape around the open end which might interfere with application of the drape over the leg of a patient or drop into a non-sterile area during use of the drape.

FIG. 4 illustrates another variation of a drape in accordance with this invention comprising a sleeve 60 of drapable material having side panels 62, 64 connected around a portion of their peripheral edges, a major longitudinal edge 66 defined by a longitudinal fold line along which the side panels 62, 64 are connected, a closed end having a seamed end edge 68, a seamed minor longitudinal edge 70, and an open end having an opening 72 defined by unseamed edges 74, 76 of the side panels 62, 64. A flap 78 joins the side panels along a transverse fold line 80 which extends alongv edges 74 and 76 around the periphery of opening 72 to provide a cuff adjacent to and opening away from the open end. The cuff is maintained in position by attaching means, such'as at 82,'attaching flap 78 to an underlying point on the drape. Unseamed edges 74 and 76 defining opening 72 intersect the major longitudinal edge 66 at an angle 83 of less than and'extend in a generally straight line to the seamed minor longitudinal edge 70 to provide an enlarged opening for insertion of a limb to be draped and to eliminate excess drape material at the open end of the drape. The drape of FIG. 4 is similar to the structure shown in FIG. 3, except that the drape of FIG. 4 does not include unseamed edge segments of the side panels corresponding to edge seg ments 49 and 51 'of FIG. 3. In the drape of FIG. 4 the seamed minor longitudinal edge 70 of the drape extends the full distance from the seamed end edge 68 to the transverse fold line 80.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of a drape in accordance with this invention comprising a sleeve 84 of drapable material having side panels 86, 88 connected around a portion of their peripheral edges, a major Ion gitudinal edge 90 defined by a longitudinal fold line along which the two side panels 86, 88 are connected,

panels along a transverse fold line 108 which extends along edges 98 and 100 adjacent opening 96 to produce a cuff adjacent to and opening away from the open end. Flap 106 may be fastened by attaching means to sleeve 84 at points such as 110, to retain the cuff in place and permit insertion of the nurses hands under the cuff for lifting and guiding the drape into covering position over a body limb. At the end points 112, 114 of the line ofjoinder of flap 106 to sleeve 84, the edges 102 and 104 of panels 86 and 88 extend to the minor longitudinal edge 94 in a direction which forms an angle 116 (the open end slope) of less than 90 with the direction of major longitudinal edge 90, as illustrated by the dashed line extensions 118, 120 of these edges shown in FIG. 5. By so slanting these portions of the edges around opening 96, the opening'is enlarged and excess drape material is removed.

Although this description has been directed mainly to the use of this invention as a legging drape, it could also be utilized as a drape to cover other body limbs or even medical tables or equipment. Other variations and modifications of this invention will be obvious to persons skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included hereby except as limited by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A surgical drape for covering a body limb comprisa flat sleeve of drapable material defined by two side panels having matching peripheral edges seamed together along a portion of said peripheral edges,

said sleeve having a major longitudinal edge which normally rests on or above the body limb draped within the sleeve, a closed end having a seamed end edge, a seamed minor longitudinal edge extending from said seamed end edge and having a length less than the length of said major longitudinal edge, an open end generally opposite the closed end and having an opening therein to receive the body limb into said sleeve,

said opening having a periphery defined by at least one peripheral edge of each side panel, said one peripheral edge of each side panel extending in a direction which forms an angle of less than 90 with the direction of said major longitudinal edge of the sleeve,

a cuff comprising a flap connected to said sleeve by a fold at the periphery of said opening and overlying said sleeve adjacent to and opening away from said open end, and

attachment means spaced from said minor longitudinal edge and attaching said flap to at least one point on each of the respective side panels underlying said flap, said points being spaced sufficiently from the major longitudinal edge so that thehands ofa person may be inserted under the cuff between the attachment means.

2. The surgical drape of claim 1 wherein said one peripheral edge of each side panel extends in a substantially straight line from said major longitudinal edge of the sleeve to said minor longitudinal edge.

3. A surgical drape comprising a rectangular sheet of drapable material having two pair of parallel edges,

a longitudinal fold line running across said sheet parallel to-and midway between one pair of said two pair of parallel edges,

a first fold of said sheet along said longitudinal fold line forming two substantially identical rectangular layers connected along said longitudinal fold line and having a first and a second pair of corresponding edges perpendicular to said longitudinal fold line and a third pair of corresponding edges extending parallel to said longitudinal fold line from said first pair of corresponding edges to said second pair of corresponding edges,

said layers having substantially edge to edge relationship along said first, second, and third pairs of corresponding edges,

a transverse fold line extending across the full width of each of said layers relatively close to said first pair of corresponding edges to define a flap portion of each layer marginal to said first pair of corresponding edges,

a second fold of said sheet along said transverse fold line folding said flap portion of each layer outwardly over onto its respective layer to thereby provide two side panels connected along said longitudinal fold line with a cuff formed by said flap portion of each layer joining each side panel along said transverse fold line,

seaming means seaming said second pair of corresponding edges along their full length and seaming said third pair of corresponding edges along a portion of their length from said second pair of corresponding edges leaving an unseamed segment thereof extending from the seamed portion to said transverse fold line,

said transverse fold line and said segment of said third pair of corresponding edges intersecting to form corners on each side panel,

corresponding diagonal fold lines extending diagonally across said corners on each side panel from a point on each of said third pair of corresponding edges along said unseamed segment to points on said transverse fold line, and

a third fold of said sheet along the diagonal fold line on one of said side panels and a fourth fold of said sheet along the diagonal fold line on the other of said side panels, said third and fourth folds bringing a corner portion of each said corner of each side panel back onto its respective side panel,

said drape including attachment means attaching each of said corner portions folded back onto its respective side panels to at least one underlying point on the drape to thereby maintain said corner portions in their folded-back position.

4. The surgical drape of claim 3 wherein said underlying point on the drape is located on said flap portion forming the cuff.

5. The surgical drape of claim 3 wherein said diagonal fold lines intersect said transverse fold line at points which are spaced sufficiently from the longitudinal fold line so that the hands of a person applying the drape to the body limb may be inserted under the cuff for manipulation of the drape.

6. The surgical drape of claim 5 wherein said points are spaced a perpendicular distance of from approximately 9.5 inches to approximately 15 inches from the longitudinal fold line, and said corresponding diagonal fold lines extend in a direction which forms an angle with the direction of said longitudinal fold line of from approximately 20 to approximately 54.

drapable material having two pair of parallel edges,

a longitudinal fold line running across said sheet parallel to and midwaybetween one pair of said pair of parallel edges,

a first fold of said sheet along said longitudinal fold line forming two substantially identical rectangular layers connected along said longitudinal fold line and having a first and a second pair of corresponding edges perpendicular to said longitudinal fold line and a third pair of corresponding edges extending parallel to said longitudinal fold line from said first pair of corresponding edges to said second pair of corresponding edges,

said layers having substantially edge to edge relationship along said first, second, and third pairs of corresponding edges,

a transverse fold line extending across the full width of each of said layers in a direction diagonal to the direction of said longitudinal fold line defining a flap portion of each layer marginal to said first pair of corresponding edges,

a second fold of said sheet along said transverse fold line folding said flap portion of each layer outwardly over onto its respective layer to thereby provide two side panels connected along said longitudinal fold line with a cuff formed by said flap portion of each layerjoining each side panel along said transverse fold line diagonal to said longitudinal fold line,

seaming means seaming said second pair of corresponding edges along their full length and seaming said third pair of corresponding edges along a portion of their length from said second pair of corresponding edges, and

attachment means spaced from the seamed third edges and attaching said flap to at least one point on each of the respective panels underlying said two flap, said points being spaced sufficiently from the longitudinal fold line so that the hands of a person may be inserted under the cuff between the attachment means.

9. A surgical drape comprising a sheet of drapable material including a longitudinal fold line running across said sheet,

a first fold of said sheet along said longitudinal fold line forming two substantially identical panels on either side of said longitudinal fold line having a first pair'of matching edges perpendicular to said longitudinal fold line, a second pair of matching edges parallel to said longitudinal fold line but of lesser length than said longitudinal fold line, a third diagonal pair of edges, and a fourth pair of matching edges perpendicular to said longitudinal fold line,

said layers having substantially edge to edge relationship along said first, second, third, and fourth pairs of matching edges,

a transverse fold line extending across each of said layers relatively close to said fourth pair of matching edges to define a flap portion of each layer marginal to said fourth pair of matching edges,

a second fold of said sheet along said transverse fold line folding said flap portion of each layer outwardly over onto its respective layer to thereby provide two side panels connected along said longitudinal fold line with a cuff formed by said flap portion of each layerjoining each side panel along said transverse fold line,

seaming means seaming said first pair of matching edges along their full length and seaming said second pair of matching edges along their length from said first pair of matching edges, and

attachment means spaced from the seamed second edges and attaching, said flap to at least one point on each of the respective side panels underlying said flap, said points being spaced sufficiently from the longitudinal edge so that the hands of a person may be inserted under the cuff between the attachment means. i 

1. A surgical drape for covering a body limb comprising a flat sleeve of drapable material defined by two side panelS having matching peripheral edges seamed together along a portion of said peripheral edges, said sleeve having a major longitudinal edge which normally rests on or above the body limb draped within the sleeve, a closed end having a seamed end edge, a seamed minor longitudinal edge extending from said seamed end edge and having a length less than the length of said major longitudinal edge, an open end generally opposite the closed end and having an opening therein to receive the body limb into said sleeve, said opening having a periphery defined by at least one peripheral edge of each side panel, said one peripheral edge of each side panel extending in a direction which forms an angle of less than 90* with the direction of said major longitudinal edge of the sleeve, a cuff comprising a flap connected to said sleeve by a fold at the periphery of said opening and overlying said sleeve adjacent to and opening away from said open end, and attachment means spaced from said minor longitudinal edge and attaching said flap to at least one point on each of the respective side panels underlying said flap, said points being spaced sufficiently from the major longitudinal edge so that the hands of a person may be inserted under the cuff between the attachment means.
 2. The surgical drape of claim 1 wherein said one peripheral edge of each side panel extends in a substantially straight line from said major longitudinal edge of the sleeve to said minor longitudinal edge.
 3. A surgical drape comprising a rectangular sheet of drapable material having two pair of parallel edges, a longitudinal fold line running across said sheet parallel to and midway between one pair of said two pair of parallel edges, a first fold of said sheet along said longitudinal fold line forming two substantially identical rectangular layers connected along said longitudinal fold line and having a first and a second pair of corresponding edges perpendicular to said longitudinal fold line and a third pair of corresponding edges extending parallel to said longitudinal fold line from said first pair of corresponding edges to said second pair of corresponding edges, said layers having substantially edge to edge relationship along said first, second, and third pairs of corresponding edges, a transverse fold line extending across the full width of each of said layers relatively close to said first pair of corresponding edges to define a flap portion of each layer marginal to said first pair of corresponding edges, a second fold of said sheet along said transverse fold line folding said flap portion of each layer outwardly over onto its respective layer to thereby provide two side panels connected along said longitudinal fold line with a cuff formed by said flap portion of each layer joining each side panel along said transverse fold line, seaming means seaming said second pair of corresponding edges along their full length and seaming said third pair of corresponding edges along a portion of their length from said second pair of corresponding edges leaving an unseamed segment thereof extending from the seamed portion to said transverse fold line, said transverse fold line and said segment of said third pair of corresponding edges intersecting to form corners on each side panel, corresponding diagonal fold lines extending diagonally across said corners on each side panel from a point on each of said third pair of corresponding edges along said unseamed segment to points on said transverse fold line, and a third fold of said sheet along the diagonal fold line on one of said side panels and a fourth fold of said sheet along the diagonal fold line on the other of said side panels, said third and fourth folds bringing a corner portion of each said corner of each side panel back onto its respective side panel, said drape including attachment means attaching each of said corner portions folded back onto its respective side panels to at least one underlying Point on the drape to thereby maintain said corner portions in their folded-back position.
 4. The surgical drape of claim 3 wherein said underlying point on the drape is located on said flap portion forming the cuff.
 5. The surgical drape of claim 3 wherein said diagonal fold lines intersect said transverse fold line at points which are spaced sufficiently from the longitudinal fold line so that the hands of a person applying the drape to the body limb may be inserted under the cuff for manipulation of the drape.
 6. The surgical drape of claim 5 wherein said points are spaced a perpendicular distance of from approximately 9.5 inches to approximately 15 inches from the longitudinal fold line, and said corresponding diagonal fold lines extend in a direction which forms an angle with the direction of said longitudinal fold line of from approximately 20* to approximately 54*.
 7. The surgical drape of claim 6 wherein said points are spaced approximately 12.5 inches from said longitudinal fold line, said longitudinal fold line has a length of approximately 43 inches, said second pair of corresponding edges has a length of approximately 30 inches, and said angle is approximately 40*.
 8. A surgical drape comprising a rectangular sheet of drapable material having two pair of parallel edges, a longitudinal fold line running across said sheet parallel to and midway between one pair of said two pair of parallel edges, a first fold of said sheet along said longitudinal fold line forming two substantially identical rectangular layers connected along said longitudinal fold line and having a first and a second pair of corresponding edges perpendicular to said longitudinal fold line and a third pair of corresponding edges extending parallel to said longitudinal fold line from said first pair of corresponding edges to said second pair of corresponding edges, said layers having substantially edge to edge relationship along said first, second, and third pairs of corresponding edges, a transverse fold line extending across the full width of each of said layers in a direction diagonal to the direction of said longitudinal fold line defining a flap portion of each layer marginal to said first pair of corresponding edges, a second fold of said sheet along said transverse fold line folding said flap portion of each layer outwardly over onto its respective layer to thereby provide two side panels connected along said longitudinal fold line with a cuff formed by said flap portion of each layer joining each side panel along said transverse fold line diagonal to said longitudinal fold line, seaming means seaming said second pair of corresponding edges along their full length and seaming said third pair of corresponding edges along a portion of their length from said second pair of corresponding edges, and attachment means spaced from the seamed third edges and attaching said flap to at least one point on each of the respective panels underlying said flap, said points being spaced sufficiently from the longitudinal fold line so that the hands of a person may be inserted under the cuff between the attachment means.
 9. A surgical drape comprising a sheet of drapable material including a longitudinal fold line running across said sheet, a first fold of said sheet along said longitudinal fold line forming two substantially identical panels on either side of said longitudinal fold line having a first pair of matching edges perpendicular to said longitudinal fold line, a second pair of matching edges parallel to said longitudinal fold line but of lesser length than said longitudinal fold line, a third diagonal pair of edges, and a fourth pair of matching edges perpendicular to said longitudinal fold line, said layers having substantially edge to edge relationship along said first, second, third, and fourth pairs of matching edges, a transverse fold line extending across each of sAid layers relatively close to said fourth pair of matching edges to define a flap portion of each layer marginal to said fourth pair of matching edges, a second fold of said sheet along said transverse fold line folding said flap portion of each layer outwardly over onto its respective layer to thereby provide two side panels connected along said longitudinal fold line with a cuff formed by said flap portion of each layer joining each side panel along said transverse fold line, seaming means seaming said first pair of matching edges along their full length and seaming said second pair of matching edges along their length from said first pair of matching edges, and attachment means spaced from the seamed second edges and attaching, said flap to at least one point on each of the respective side panels underlying said flap, said points being spaced sufficiently from the longitudinal edge so that the hands of a person may be inserted under the cuff between the attachment means. 